Switch



Feb. 24, 1931 w. o. HAMPTQN Erm. 1,793,797

` swITcH Original Filed Sept'. 27, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 24,V1931.l w. o. HAMPTQN ETAL i 1,793,797

SWITCH Original Filed Sept. 27, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 24,1931 STAT FLFIQ'M i VELDAOT 0. HAMPTON AND Ell-MINE JQ THOMPSON, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSEGNORS 'ro Tira nanna ILLINOIS STAR ELECTRCCO., OFCHICAGO, ILLINOS, A CGREJORTGN OF @riginal application filed September27, 1926, Serial No. 137,930, now` Patent No. 1,711,229, dated April 30,1929. Divided and this application led August 22, 19238.` Serial No.301,242.`

rlhis application is adivision ot our copendinp; application, Serial No.137,930, filed September. 2C", 1326, now Fat-ent 1,711,229

dated April 30, 1929; i

@ur invention relates to electrical switch mechanism and moreparticularly to a oi' switches ot our intention which we prefer` i ablyterm horiziontal-vertical switches.

recent times the transmission of power having high voltages has become areality and engineers are constantly striving` to meet and improvetheconditions surrounding the use of high voltagejtransmission lines.Ob-

viously, the increase in voltages necessitated that Athe dimensions andstriking distances or" theswitch parts keep pace therewith. This isparticularly trueof disconnect switches which are usually associatedwith the power lines in exposed condition. y

New in three-phase power lines, the disconnect switches are associatedtherewith in multiple or in banks ot three switches, one for each line.It has been the practice in operating switches, especially those of therotary insulator type, to move the switch blade of each switch insubstantially one plane, either a horizontal or a vertical plane, `asthe case may be. When the switch is in an opened condition, its bladewill naturally be in a `proxima-te position to the terminals of theadjacentswitch. Then, too, in a disconnect switch it is necessary tomore the blade to a `position at least as distantfrom the aired i i35.fte'rrninal as the end ot the pivot termina-l as` sociated with theblade.

Y In order to make this possible in a bank oi' three switches oit therotary insulator type, the central switch is usu lly separated on eachside from the adjacent switches by a distance great enough. toaccon'nnodate the full length This results in such` of the switch blade.y switches occupying; considerable space and necessitating1 a relativelylarge mounting for each bank ot three disconnect switches which is not adesirable feature in the switch art.

TW e propose to remedy `the above undesirable condition by providing aswitch of the rotary insulator type wherein the blade is `adapted to beswung `from one plane to antal plane to a Vertical plane. ln our novelswitch construction the blade is mounted in such a manner upon the hingeterminal that it is adapted wach actuated to be swung from a planeparallel. to the base to a plane substantially at right angles thereto.lt will be evident that in a bank ot switches embodying' the featuresoit our invention, the switches may be positioned closer together,thereby ref lucing the size oit mounting necessary for the bank ofswitches and thus resulting in economy as 'far as space concerned.

ln accordance with the features of our invention, we provide a switchwherein the blade is mounted in such a manner upon a rotary insulator,that upon motion being imparted `as well as an iin'iroyed non-treezablesupport therefor, both or" our invention. Incidentally,` we contemplate.the provision of self-aligning cont-acts adapted to cooperate with theswitch blade in such manner as to insure a n'ood electrical connectiontherebetween.

Other objects and advantages oi the present invention will` more .tellyappear from the followingr detailed descriyjition taken in connectionwith the `accompanying drawings' which illustrate several embodimentsthereot and in which Fia'. l is an elevation of a switch embodyinpj the'features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan View of the selfaligning contact hat terminalshown in n 1 Elfi. i;

3 is another enlarged View of the saine stationary terminal asillustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. L1- is an enlargedplan view of the .mounting of the switch bladeillustrated in l5 5 of rig. i niusaaang the bevuta gear mechanism foractuating the switch blade.

The switch as thus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a supporting beam 230 and avpair of spaced vertical insulators 231 andV 232. The

yinsulator 232'is attached to a base 2.33 secured to the support 230.Mounted upon the top of theinsulator 232 is a contact terminal devicedesignated generally by theV reference Vcharacter '235. This deviceincludes an arcing horn 236. Connected to this device is an end of anelectrical transmission line 237.

Reference may now be had to Figs. 2 and 3 wherein the construction ofthe contact terminal 235 is shown in detail. The terminal includes apair of pivotally mounted contact locks 240 to each of which isconnected an electrical conductor 241. The blocks are adapted tocooperate with the switch blade to establish an electrical connection.'lt

should be notedat this time that the bloclrs are adapted to lbe spreadapart in order to l. permit ofthe blade being placed intermetimes urgedvtoward each other by the diate them.

Associated with each of the bloclis is a resilient element 242 which hasan aperture 243 for accommodating a yprojection 244 integral with theouter face of the block. The projco tion 244 cooperates with the element242 to support the'bloclr 240. That is to say, they solo supporttor theblock is allorded by theV terminalV iece246V are all positioned intermediate the ends of the pair oiilresilient elements 242. Moreover, theconductors 241, the resilient elements 242, and the terminal piece 246,are all fastened to the top of the insulator 232 by means of a clampingplate 247 and a pair oii'bolts 248. Y Y The resilient? elements 242 areadapted to at all times urge the blocks 240 vtoward each other. YFurthermore, when the free end ot the switch 4blade is positionedintermediate the blocksv the resilient elements serve to force thevblocks into engagement with the switch" .Y

blade to' establish a gocdpfelectrical connection therebetween. f Theblocks are permitted to roclrv freely upon their pivotal mountings andare thus enabled to accommodate themselvesfjwithfacility to the surfaceof the lfree ends of the switch blades. ln other wordsthe blocks areself-aligning and are Vthus capable oi at all tinies tightly engagingthe switch blades. llasteiied to the terminal piece 246 by bolts 249 isa terminal lug 250 in which the end of the electrical conductor 237 isfastened.

The lower end ot the insulator 231 is quipped with shaft portion 251suitably `journaled in a base piece 252 fastened to the bea-m support230.` rlhe shaft portion 251 is equipped with suitable loclriiigbolts253 located below the beam 236. These bolts maintain the insulator inits? vertical position and preventl une same from tilting.v also,

the loi'e'r end of the shaft portion'251 is eqiiipped with apolygonal-shaped portion 254 to whicha suitable wrench'or lever handlemay be connected for the purpose of re- Volvin the insulator 231. l

spaced trom'the insulator 231 is another vertical insulator 255 suitablyfastened to the beam 230; The pair of insulators 231 and 255 cooperateto support a. drive device designated generally by the Vrei'eiencecharacter This device,in addition to serving as a means 'for actuatingthe switch blade designated generally by .the reference character 25'?,serves as a mounting tor the switch 4lle shall now describe in detailthe mounti'nd drive mechanism 256 which is illus- Ad n Figs. 4 and 5;rlhe construction 256 d s a casing or housing 258 which is positionedimmediately over the insulator 231. rlhe housing 258 has bolted theretoa supporting strip 259 secured to the top of the insulator 255. Boltedto the housing 258 isa lug 259 of an electrical transmission line 260.Positionedinside of the housing 258 and disposed in substantially ahorizontal plane is a bevel gear 261 which is connected to the top ofthe insulator 231 by means of a plurality of dovelpins 262. T his bevelgear 261 is at all ytimes in mesh with a bevel gear 263 positioned in aplanedisposed at an angle to that of the gear 261. The casing 258 is.provided with an opening 264 in axial alignment with he gear 261. AlsotheY gear 261 is quipped with an opening 265 in axial alignment withtheopening- 264. Positioned in the openings isla bearing member 26.6.VV y

The member isprovided with a central aperture through which theshanlr ofa bolt 268 extends. rl`he lower end of thebolt 268 is threaded into thetop oi v'the insulator 231. Also positioned intermediate the head of thebolt 268 and the-casing 258 are a plurality of washers 269. i 1

The gear 263is splined to a shaft 270 which extends through an4r opening271 in the casing 258. rlhe upper endlof this shaft 2 7() is provided`with a head portion 2.72 which has "formed integral therewith asocket-like portion 273fo-r receiving an end of the switch i blade 257.The socket portion 272 is pre1- ei'ably split as indicated at 2?4v andthe split portions are adapted to be bolted together by means ot a pairof bolts and nuts 275. The bolts and nut-s 275 engage flanges 276 formedAblade 257 is attached integral with the split socket member 273.lhesoclret member 270 is positioned at an angle with respect to theshaft 270. rilhe angle is substantially greater than a right angle. I'hcsocket member 27.2 is preferably connected to the head portion 27's by apair of l legs 278. rihe tubular switch blade an end pofiitioned in` thesocket mehr derailed to this end of the blade bj ing" '1li 2.75 an endof a copper -1 i YA rinboi co1. 'luctor 218. having its other end comeeted to the line 260. yihls conductor 278 serves as a means forby-passing the current around the housing' `258 `to the switch arm iAssociated with the head portion 272 is a grease cup 278 by means ofwhich a lubrica tion medium may be projected into the inside of theeasing 258. That is to say, the grease cup 278 -is adapted to furnishlubrication to the bearings associated with the shaft 27() in `a mannerwhich will now be described in detail. The upper end of the opening 271in the casing 258 is flared and provided with a beveled edge 280.`Positioned intermediate this annular beveled edge 280 and the headpiece 272 are a pluralityiof steel balls281 Also, it should be notedthat the head portion 272 is equipped with an annular flange 282 whichoverlaps the part of the casing 258 associated with the beveled edge280. The low- Aer end of the opening 271 is also flared and equippedwith a beveled yedge 284C. Positioned intermediate the annular bevelededge 284 and the gear 2 63 are a plurality of anti frictional`elementsor steel balls 285 which i .serve as an antrfrictional bearing'for the shaft 270. The lower end of the shaft 270 is reduced asindicated `at 286. This reduced 'portion 286 is adapted to have threadedthereon a castellated nut 287. Positioned intermediate the eastellatednut 287 and the vgear 268 is a thrust washer 288. The castellated nut287 may be looked in place by the usualcotter pin 289 whichentondsthrough a suitable aperture in the threaded portion 286 oftheshaft 27 0.

It should be noted that the socket member 27 3 is cut away, as indicatedat 290 in order Vvfor it to be moved .witliiout' interfering` with i thehead ofthe bolt 268. Also, it should be f observed that the casing 258is provided with a grease cup 291 by `means of which lubrication may besupplied to the'bearing 266.

A New, as previously described, the switch o Y tothe socket portion 273by means of the bolts and nuts 275. The

freeendof the switch blade 257 is flattened as `indicated Vat 295. i`This flattened portion isadapted to be moved intermediate thepreviously described self-aligningcontact blocks thereto anlarcinghorn296 for cooperation with the arcing horn 236 associated with thestationaryinsulator 232.

The operation of our invention above de scribed is believed to beobvious from the detailed description when taken in connection with theaccompanying illustrations inthe drawings. It will be evident thatalthough the rotary insulator 231 is disposed in a vertical position, ahorizontahvertical movement may be imparted to the switch blade `257 tomove it into or out of engagement with the self-aligning contact block240. In this form of our invention the horiZontal-vertical increment isaccomplisheal by `associating` with the upper end of the verticalinsulator 231 a bevel gear drive for the switchblade 257. In order tominimize the stresses and strains imposed upon the insulator 231 by themounting and driving mechanism 256, we find it desirable to provide anauxiliary insulator 255 which is adapted to cooperate with the rotaryinsulator 231 in supporting the bevel gear mechanism 256. The steelballs 281 and 285 associated with the shaft 270 in the bevel gear drive,perform two functions. One of these functions is to provide ananti-frictional support for the shaft 27 O and the other function togrind away any corrosive inatter that `might accumulate at the bearingsof the shaft. y e

Furthermore, it should be observed that the device 256 maybedisassembled with facility for the purposes of repair or the replacementof parts. Although the gear mechanism is associated with the upper end`the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a switch, a base, a fixed insulator mounted thereon, a rotaryinsulator spaced from the fixed insulator and mounted on the base, acontact terminal associated with the fixed insulator, a switch bladeassociated with i the rotary insulator and oooperable with the contactterminal, and aprotary` gear connection between the top of the rotaryinsulator and the said blade for swinging the blade,

said connection including a drivengear with its axis at an angle otherthan a right angleto i the am oi.' the blade and with which the bla demoves as a unit, whereby the blade is swung in a non-planar path.

2. In a switch, a base, a fixed insulator mounted thereon, airotary`insulator spaced from the fixed insulatoi and mounted on the base, acontact terminal-associated with the fixed insulator a switch bladeassociated with therotary insulator and cooperable with the contactterminal, a rotary gear connection between the top of the'rotaryinsulator and the said blade,'said connection including a driven gearthe axis of which is at an obtuse angle to the axis of the switchbladeand with which Y thev blade is connected to moveas a unit, tlieaxis of said blade being disposed substantially parallel. to the planeof the base when iin engagement with the terminal and at an langle tothe plane of the base when it is in an open Y iixed'insulator, a switchblade associated with the rotary insulatorrand cooperable with thecontact terminal,a gear connection between 'the rtop of the rotaryinsulator and the said blade, said connection including a driven gearwith its axis of rotation at an angle other than a right angle with theaxis of the blade and with which the blade vis connected to move as aunit, and means associated with the lower end of the rotary insulatorfor operating the yinsulator and gearing to move the blade inasubstantially conical path into and out of engagement with the contactterminal.

4. vIn a switch, a base, a fixed yinsulator Amounted thereon, a rotaryinsulator spaced from the fixed insulator and mounted on the base, acontact terminal associated with the i fixed insulator, a switch bladeassociated with Y blade, the axis of the two gears intersectingA therotary insulator and cooperable with the contact terminal, means formoving the blade in a'conical path laterally and away from the base toopen the switch, said means including the rotary insulator and a gearconnection between the top of the rotary insulator and 'the said blade,vsaid gear connection including a bevel gear connected to the top oftherotary insulator, and a second bevel gear in mesh with the said lirstgear connected to the switch at an angle other than a right angle.

, 5. In a switch, a base, a fixed insulator mounted thereon, a rotaryAinsulator spaced Vfromthe fixed insulator yandinounted on the ',baseQacontact terminal associated with the fixed insulator, a switch bladeassociated with the'rotary insulator and cooperable with the contactterminal, a gear connection between the top of the rotary insulator and'the said blade, said gear connection lincluding a lirst bevel-gearrconnected to the top' of the'rotary insulator,a second bevell gearin mesh with said first gear, said'blade being `connected. to

, the second bevel gear with its axis at an angle to other than a rightangle to the axis of the gear, a shaft upon which the second gear ismounted, aV non-freezing rotary bearing support for said shaft, and aconnection between said shaft and the blade, said bearing including aplurality of anti-frictional elements, and means associated with thelower end of the rotary insulator for operating the same to move theblade in a substantially conical path into and out of engagement withthe contact terminal. Y

, 6. An outdoor switch comprising a supporting base, two stationaryinsulators mounted on said base in spaced relationship, a switch contactmounted on one of the insulators, a switch blade, and means for movingthe blade out'o-f engagement with the Contact in a direction extendingfirst substantially laterally of the basel and at right angles totheplane of the supporting'insulators and thereafter in a directionextending substantially vertically of the base to increase the strikingdistance between theblade and both the base and the movable Contact,said means including a movable actuating insulator supported by saidbase and an actuating connection between the free fend of -said movableinsulator and the blade.

'7. An outdoor switch comprising a supporting base, two stationaryinsulators mounted on said base inspaced relationship, a switch Contactmounted on one of the insulators, a switch blade, and means for `movingthe blade out of engagement with the contact in a direction extendingfirst substantially laterally 'of the base and at right angles to l theplane of the axes of the supporting insulators and thereafter in adirection extending substantially verticallyv of the base to increasethe striking distance between ythe blade and both the base and themovable contact, said means including a movable actuating insulatorsupported by said base andan actuating connection between the free endof said movable insulator and the blade, said movable insulator beingdisposed between said stationary insulators and adjacent one of them.

8. An outdoor switch comprising av supporting base, twov .stationaryvinsulators mounted on said base in spaced relationship, a switchcontactmou'ntedon one of theinsulaters, a switch blade,y means yformoving the blade out of engagement with the contact in a direction'extending lirst substantially laterallly of the base and at right:angles to the plane of the supporting insulators and thereafterjin adirection .extendingsubstantially vertically of the base to increase thestriking distance between the blade andv both the base and the movablecontact, `said means including a movable actuating insulator supportedby said base a'ndanactuating connection bedisposed between saidstationary insulators and adjacent one of them, and a bracing conneotionbetween the top of the movable insulator and said adjacent stationaryinsulator.

- 9. VA switch comprising a supporting base,

a movable switch member having a generally horizontal closed position,means for swinging said switch member in a path extending firstsubstantially laterally of the supporting base and thereafter extendingsubstantially upwardly to the open position, said means including astationary and a movable insulator both mounted upon said base andbracing means between the insulators, and means -3 contacting' with themovable switch member in a generally horizontal closed position forcompleting a circuit therethrough.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 16th day ofAugust, 1928.

\ WELDON O. HAMPTON. ERMINE J. THOMPSON.

